Eating out? SEVEN ways to make healthy choices!

Eating out? SEVEN ways to make healthy choices!

At a time when eating out is becoming more of a rule than an exception, little choices you make can go a long way.

Eating out has indeed become a favourite urban weekend activity.

Add to that the weekday business lunches, birthday parties, and get-togethers at the restaurants, and you will realise that many of us end up eating out more than thrice in a week.

You do know that it is not the best thing for your health, but many a times it seems to be unavoidable. However, these visits to the eateries need not always leave you feeling guilty or stop you from losing the extra kilos you have been struggling to lose.

With some knowledge and judicious choices you can save yourself from guzzling hundreds of unwanted calories and harmful fats at your next restaurant meal.

The healthy recipe keyword

To make healthier choices at a restaurant, familiarise yourself with the words that indicate dishes likely to be healthier and low in saturated fat. Typically this would mean dishes that are:

Grilled

Barbequed

Roasted

Tandoori

Steamed

Baked

Stir-fried

Descriptions such as 'in its own juice' and 'garden fresh' also indicate that the recipe does not include too much added fat.

The menu card in most good restaurants has a brief description of the dish. Look for the keywords listed above to place a healthier order. In case a description is not available, do not hesitate to ask what a fancy sounding preparation actually contains.

Doing this will not only help you select the low fat dishes but can also save you from ending up eating something that you absolutely do not like.

Image: Dishes like steamed dumplings are usually a healthy option while eating outPhotographs: Marshall Astor/Creative Commons

Make use of the takeaway box

Do not continue eating if you are already full. Just ask the waiter to put the rest in a takeaway box.

Remember that restaurants are hospitality industry and you are the customer. It's their business to make you happy, so do not hesitate.

Of course it's not possible to pack all kinds of dishes but three slices of your pizza or half a bowl of biryani can make another meal so there is no point pushing it down your throat when you are already stuffed.

Image: Don't stuff yourself if you're full. Those extra slices of pizza could be an entire meal for later.Photographs: Robert/Creative Commons